So, I’ve just finished #3 in the trilogy. I had wanted to write some words after finishing #1 and #2, but then, as now, I find them very hard to describe. They’re just beautiful and a joy to read.

.#3 I thought was a bit less strong, mostly due to the fact that it moved away from the main characters for long stretches, losing its strength at those points. Still, it was a good read and tied up the story well.

Endings are always difficult and tricky; they often end up not being entirely satisfying, or they are over too quickly and the events are too easily resolved. The Amber Spyglass wraps up an impressive and ambitious trilogy, and manages to do so in a satisfying way.

Unfortunately, it is not as successful as the two previous novels; there is too much ground to cover, and the parallel narratives suck energy and suspense from each other. The breadth, scope and imagination are the same, but some of the focus and dramatic tension is lost in the intertwining story threads.